The saga that is Haggen came closer to its conclusion Friday with an announcement from the Bellingham-based grocery chain that it has accepted an offer from Albertsons to acquire 29 core stores.

Haggen investors had built the original Northwest grocery chain of 18 stores and 16 pharmacies into a collection of 164 stores and 106 pharmacies, expanding into California and the Southwest.

Less than a year later, last September, the chain declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Friday’s announcement stated that Haggen has accepted Albertsons’ bid to acquire 29 of the remaining 32 Haggen-branded stores. An auction previously scheduled for March 18 has been canceled.

Bankruptcy court must approve the sale. A hearing is set for March 29.

The sale price was not released.

Seven Oregon stores and 22 in Washington are included in the sale agreement. In the South Sound, acquired stores are at 8611 Steilacoom Blvd. SW in Tacoma; 3520 Pacific Ave. SE in Olympia; 1406 Lake Tapps Parkway E. in Auburn; and 1313 Cooper Point Rd. SW in Olympia.

Haggen stores in Oregon City, Oregon, and Port Angeles were not included in the agreement, and are expected to close within 60 days. Also closing is the Haggen grocery at 201 37th Ave. SE in Puyallup, which employes 78 workers.